Multiple punch



Dec. 28,1926. 1,612,156

A. E. SMALL MULT I PLE PUNCH Filed May 10, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jfwfziar Dec. 28,1926. 1,612,156

-A. E. SMALL MULTI PLE PUNCH Filed May 10, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Even tor I Aflfizzrlfimal] Afiorng I Dec. 28 1926.

A. SMALL MULTIPIQEEUNCH Filed May 10, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 000000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 0000 O OO O 1 Dec 28 1926.

1 E. SMAL MULTI PLE PUNCH Filed May 1o, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 g L Afiarngy Patented Dec. 28, 1926. i

t I/NITED STATES 1,612,156 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. SMALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO UNION METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, .OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIEOBATION OF DELAWARE.

Emma Fonda.

, Application filed This invention relates to improvements in.

another object of this invention to .so con--- struct this machine that any number of holes in. any predetermined location upon the sheetmay be punched in one operation,

l audit is a further object to provide a means,

for stripping the punched .plates from the punches to prevent the tearing or deforming of the sheet after the holes have been punched. v a

While the preferred form of this invention is illustrated upon the accompanying sheets of drawings, yet it is to be under-" stood that minor deta'l changes .maybe made without departing f oni the scope thereof. In the drawings: r Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of -a punching machine constructed in accord I ance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a Viewinend'eleV'ation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a topplan view of a sheet of metal to be punched. Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe punch template.

Fig. 5 is a Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view in longitudinal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailview in transverse section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. Sis anenlarged detail view in plan of the eccentric stripping shaft. Fig. 9 isan enlarged detail view in elevation and partly'in sectionfiof a punch illustrating its means of attachment.

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the die. F i g. 11 is a similar view of a modified form of die.-

JWhile the machine constructed in accordance with this invention may be used for Q punching largeisheets of metalof various .typesf,.'it.is particularly adapted for punch- Ling corrugated sheets as will hereinafter be described r Figs. 1 and, 2 illustrate a usual type of hydraulic punching. :machine; in which the May 10,

plan view of the die template.

1922. Serial m'sasas.

upper platen is stationary and the lower platen reciprocated to and from the stationary platen to perform the punching operation and needs no particular description as this invention relates to the formation" of the templates, the arrangement of the punches and dies and means for stripping the punched plate from the punches.

Fig. 3 illustrates a corrugated plate for which-this machine is particularly adapted and the only requirement is that the body of the machine be of sufiicient size to receive the plate. The corrugated plate illustrated is one described in other patents for forming an end or portion of an end of a freight ca'r, and is illustrated in the form in which it comes from the corrugatingpress before shearing.\.Plates of this kind are pressed from rectangular blanks of Steel generally of to 1' in thickness with corrugations usually of 2" in depth which merge into the plane of the sheet at their ends so that there .is a margin of metal on all four sides in the'original plane of the sheet and as the corrugations are usually pressed from one side of the apices of the corrugations on one side will also lay'in the plane of the plate. The pressing up of the corrugations within the body of the plate contracts the sides of the plate, as shown, and the plate jacent body are riveted to the end posts-of the car it requires a line of rivet holesalong each end. -Nu lherousother holes are reuired in the body of the plate for securing t e lining or naihng: strips, grab irons, ladders, etc. These fatter rivet holes are-usuJ ally in the apices of the corrugations that lie in the plane of the plate: However,'=at

times rivet holes 'in the apices of the corrugations at a distance from the quired.

The object of this invention 'is all of the required holes in the plate at one operation, preferably after the plate has left the corrtigating are shearedsot at-after the shearing the plate needs no further handling (a operatmg upon'exeept where the ends are flanged is sheared to rectangular form before being appliedto the car and it is'also necessary to plate are rei lpress and before itsedges punched in the plate.

cated to and from the upper platen by a hydraulic ram and is guided by the columns during its movement.

Similarly formed punch and die-blocks 4 and 5 are secured in line with each other upon the platens and may be of solid metal or may be hollowed out on the platen side if desired, said blocks having a continuous flange 6 about the face contacting with the platen which flange is provided with bolt holes so that the blocks may be secured to the platen by a series of bolts 7. To the faces of the punch or-die blocks which are adjacent each otherare secured punch and die templates 8 and 9 for positioning the punches and dies in line with each other and in accordance 'with'the holes required to be By the use of these templates anydesired arrangement of rivet holes may be punched. In order that the dies and punches may be both secured to the templates and rest upon the punch and die blocks the templates are spaced apart from the faces of the blocks by threaded spacing blocks 10 and 11 and are secured to the punch and die blocks by bolts 12 threaded through the spacing blocks and passing The punches are carried in holders through templates and secured thereto by nuts on the exterior of the templates. To receive and holdthe heads of the bolts the adjacent faces of each punch and die block are provided with a plurality of corresponding transverse grooves 13 through which the shank of the bolt may be passed with the bottom of the grooves gained out or increased in width to receive the bolt heads, so that while the .bolts may be moved transversely of the blocks they will be held securely in position when the nuts are taken After the location of the desired rivet holes has been determined and one template so marked it is preferable; while not necessary, to place the two templates together and drill or punch the punch and die positioning apertures in both at the same time there by insuring an accurate disposition of both apertures in line with each other.

It is preferable to carry the punches upon the upper and stationary platen with the dies upon the lower and movable platen, although the relations may be reversed if desired.

distance from the upper or 'terposed between the the upper template and secured thereto by. 'a threaded bolt 15 passing through the tem-- plate" apertures with the head resting against the punch block, the bolt secured by a lock nut 16 on the opposite side in contact with the outer surface of the template. .The

aperture through which the shank of the.

punch is passed.

The inner end with an enlarged head so that the coupling nut will secure the punch to the bolt. This end is slightly convex and is heldin engagement with the end of the bolt by means of the coupling nut. Threaded spacing blocks 10 equal in thickness to the positioning bolt heads are disposed about the template positioning bolts so that the template is'secured rigidly vto the punch block holding the punch carriers against the blocks and since the punch carrier bolts are all of. the same dimension and the punches of the same length of the punch is provided.

the operative ends of thepunches are positioned in the same horizontal plane.

The dies 18 are preferably in the form of shouldered cylinders having a central passage 19 through which the punchand. slug punched from the plate may pass with the operating surface andthe shoulder-equal in all instances-and the restricted portion is passed through the template positioningaperture with the shoulder in contact with the outer surface of the template and with a portion of the die extending beyond the inner surface thereof. A cylindrical die holder 20 is 1nbottom of the die and die block having a circular recess at the top to receive the portion of the die projecting beyond the inner surface of the template and which maybe secured thereto by a set screw. A passage 21 is provided in the die holder leading from the passage in the die' and opening on the side of. the holder for the discharge of the slug punched from the plate. he threadedspacing blocks 11 about the template'securing bolts are of equal height tothe die holders so that the template will be held rigidly in place with the dies posi tioned thereon and through the die holder in contact with the die block. The apertures in the templates for positioni ng the punch holders and dies may be of the same sizg'and both may be drilled at the same time by placing the templates together and this is preferable as then exact registry of punches and dies is thereby assured; The apertures in the templates forthe' bolts securing time, while the templates are face to face.

These apertures may be arranged in any desired location to avoid being too near the punch or die apertures as long as they are in line with the bolt receiving grooves in the respective die blocks.

The templates are then secured to their respectivepunch and die blocks with the punches and dies in line and which will be by their holders held resting upon the punch or die blocks so that when the plate is placed between them the pressure of the press will becommun'cated from the blocks through the holders o the punches and dies uniformly at the same time and as the dies are essary, so that as-the on the under or lower platen the metal slugs punched from the metal plates will fall through the passage in the die holders to' the upper surface of the die block.

Since it is necessary that the holes in all the plates be punched uniformly care must be taken that each plate 22 is placed upon the-press in exactly the same position. a The majority of the plate holes are punched from the metal late which lies in the normal lane of te plate so that the plate may in the excess metal of the plate andthe part that will later be sheared and provide cor; responding pilot holes-in the die or lower template and its respective die block, if neeplate is suspended above the dies'before-bei laid thereon the bolts may be inserted t rough the pilot holes in the plate with the bolt head upon theupper surface and the lower free ends depending below the plate inserted in the template or die block holes so that as the 7 plate is lowered the bolts in both sets of pilot holee will guide the plate to the same location upon each operation, or should; the plate be sheared before punching gauge strips may be provided secured .to the templat-es so as toregister with the sheared edge of plate. g a

The metal plates'for which'this multiple punch is especially designed ranges from '1 to 7 in thickness and it takes a large;

- powerful press, to punch all the necessary holes at one time; To strip 'thepunched plate requires a considerable pressure and therefore mechanical means must be provided that will exert the stripping pressure evenly on the upper side oftheplate at the same time to removeor strip it from the shanks of the punches without tearing or mutilati'ng the body of the plate about the punch holes. The -mechanical meansprqvided forthis purpose-comprisesan eccentric shaft 25 mounted longitudinally on each side of the press having corresponding earns 26 on opposite sides which co-operatewith stripperbars 27 arranged transversely of the press, the reciprocationof the platen of the press beilgqtransinitted to the shafts to strip the .p11i1ched ;-plates from the unches. As illustrated, theleccentric sha ts are mounted in bearings 28 on each side of the press outside of the templates which bearings are adapted to be secured to the punch block in the same manner as the template by bolts havingtheir heads positioned in the transverse grooves in the blocks and with the .base bf the bearing resting against t e surface of the block and therefore may, if desired, be arranged with 21 bearing adjacent each groove with cams upon the shafts between eachbearing or may be mounted on the sides of punch .or die blocks. As many stripper bars as desired may be arranged transversely of the press,

each of which is provided with a continuous straight upper surface adapted to clear the template and having the lower side recessed: intermediate 'itsends-so that the end portions are adapted te engage the margins of the plate that lie in the normal plane of the plate and 'thebody of the recessed portion engage thev apices. of the corrugations of the plate and some strippers at edge of the corrugated plate are not recessed so that uvhen pressure is applied in a downward direction the stripper bars will-transmit such pressure to the entire surface of the plate it contacts with Eachend of'each stripper bar is bifurcated having sides parallel to the ,surface ofvthe templateadapted to receive a between them the camsof-the eccentric shaft by which means the stripper bars are held and reciprocated. The reciprocating movement of the die-platen of the pressispreferably-transmitted ,to the shaft by providing at each end of the shaft, or atas'many intermediate points as desired, an outwardly extending crank arm 29 fixedly secured to the shaft which in turn is connected by a link 30 pivotedat one end to the end of the crahk arm and at the other to the platen or A15;

1 block so that the up and down movement of the movable platen will impart a rotary {movement to the eccentric shaft The adjacent ends of the crank arm and link are a each provided with a plurality of pivot bearings\by which the pivot point may be cam shaft. v

The're beingfia plurality of stripper bars adjusted to regulate the operation of the 7 provided across the punch plate which may be arranged between the punches and adjacent: the punched hOleslwhich engage the upper surface of thepla-te after the punching operation is completed and the die plate begins to descend'i and impart a downward 70 the ends of which engage the cams, Y

pressure upon the upper surface, of the punched plate which pressure continuesas the die plate descends the vpunched plate will be tmiformly and, continuously forced downward by pressure applied throughout the,surface of'the punched plate adjacent the punches that will strip the plate from the punches without tearing, buckling or otherwise deforming the plate.

The corrugated plates 22 to be punched are of considerable W0lgl1t and are cumbersome to handle by hand in position upon the press so that it is desirable to make the operation on the plates as nearly continuous as possible from the fiat platcto the completed corrugated punched and sheared plate, that is, ready for application to the car. To this end, an eletromagntic hoist or crane is provided at either or both ends for positioning and removing theeorrugated.

plates over the dies and also a conveyor sponding to the height of the operating sur-\ face of the dies of the lower platen when at the end of the downward movement and it is preferable toprovide a pneumatic lift or hydraulic ram 32 comprising a vertical cylinder having a vertical lifting arm terminating in a roller bearing so that should from any cause the end of the delivered plate be below the dies of the punch, such as occasioned by an incompleted opening of the punch platens, the plates may be lifted to the proper height.

To protect the operating surface of the dies it ispreferable to provide a plurality of longitudinal skids 33 upon the upper surface of the die templates over which the plate to be punched may slidewithoutdamaging the "dies which are preferably formed of metal bars having bent back ends adapt ed to be engaged with the under side of the template and as these skids are removable they'may be placed as desired between the dies,

To complete the positioning of the plate afte'r'it has been presented to the punch an electromagnetic crane is provided which preferably comprises a reciprocating arm or arms arranged to travel longitudinally over the center of the punch between the punches and dies. This arm is preferably in the form ofan I beamfi-l t mounted in bearings 35 on the side opposite the press conveyor, and having rollers adapted to engage the upper and lower sides of the top fiangeand a rack on the under side of the lower flange adapted to engage a power driven pinion by which the arm may be reciprocated. The recipro eating arm is provided with two electromagnets 36 and 37 on its under side spaced apart so that the marginal at surfaces of the ends of the plate and are provided with adjustable clamps to provide proper spacing and also limit coimection. One end of the arm is adapted to travel through the punch and therebeyond a sufficient distance to be over the adjacent end of the plate presented by the press conveyor with the magnet adjacent this end positioned over the adjacent fiat marginal portion of the plate. The end magnet is then energized to attach the plate to thearm and the arm is retracted, carrying the plate over the template until in proper posit on to be punched and deposited. The pilot'bolts'38 having been inserted will enwill be adapted to engage the,-

gage tihe pilotholes in the template and upon the re ease of the magnet will guide the plate to the proper position to be punched. The retraction ofthe arm is continued until it'is free from the punch. After the punching operation is completed and the plate stripped and the die platens depressed the crane arm is again moved over the punched plate until its magnets lie over the plate, the magnets; energized which will hold the plate while the plate is slightly lowered and the arm retracted carrying with it the plate from'between theplatens of the punch. A

transfer table or conveyor. 39 similar to the press conveyor is providedat this end of the punch over which the punch plate is moved by" the crane and upon de-energizing the magneto the punched plate is rested upon this conveyor or transfer table for such disposition as is desired and the arm is ready for another travel through the punch to reach the end plate.

It is, therefore, seen that any number of similar plates can be punched one after the other, and in each the holes punched will be in thesame relation to each other on the margins of the plate. It is also readily seen" that-the dies and punches being positioned to; register by the templates with the pressure exerted directly upon the punches and dies independently of the positioning means will positively cause the dies andpunches to register at each operation of the'punch. .A reciprocation of the press having die and punch blocks of the character described can be readily adapted to punch any arrangement of holes by having the templates. The

means for securing the templates to "the punch and die blocks is suchthat the securmg means never interfere with any arrangement of the punches and die holders and the template not only positions the punches and dies but also insures that the punch anddie holders engage thepunch and die blocks.

.VVhat I claim is:

1. In a reciprocating punch, punch and die blocks, punches and dies secured in alignment to each other upon the respective blocks, a stripper, operating shaft mounted on one of the blocks, a plurality of stripper .bars arranged adjacent the punches in engagement with the shaft adapted to strip the punched plate from the punches, and means operated by the reciprocation of the punch to actuate the shaft.

2. In a reciprocating punch, punch and die blocks, punches and dies secured in alignment thereon, stripper shafts on opposite sides of the punch mounted on the punch b1ock,-a plurality of stripper bars arranged adjacentthe punches adapted'to strip the punched plate from the'punches in engagement with the'shafts, and means operated by the reciprocation of the punch to actuate the shafts.

3. In a reciprocating punch, punch and die blocks, punches and dies secured'ein alignment thereon, stripper shafts on opposite sides of the punch mounted on the punch block, a plurality of stripper bars arranged adjacent the punches adapted to stripthe punched plate from the punches in engagement with the shafts, and adjustable means operated by the reciprocation of the punch to actuate the shafts.

I 4:. In a reciprocating punch, punch and die blocks, punches and dies secured in alignment thereon, stripper shafts on opposite sides of the punch mounted on the punch block, aplurality of stripper bars arranged adjacent the punches adapted to strip the punched plate from the punchesin engagement with the shafts, and means operated by the reciprocation of the punch to actuate the shafts, said means including bar engaging cams upon said shafts.

5. In a reciprocating punch, punch and die blocks, punches and diessecured in alignment thereon, stripper shafts on opposite sides of the punch mounted on the unch block, a'plurality of stripper bars arranged adjacent the punches adapted to strip the punchedplate from the punches havlngbifurcated ends embracing the shafts, cams of the shafts adapted to actuate the bars, and means operated by'the reciprocation of the punch to rotate the shafts.

65, 6. A reciprocating punch, a reciprocating "electromagnetic crane adapted to move through the parts of the punch when open, a

\ conveyor adapted to present a plate to the punch having a lift at the punch end adapted to carry the plate to engage the crane, 00 said crane adapted to engage the plate, positilon it on the press and remove the punched p ate. I

7. In a machine; the combination of reciprocating elements, punches and dies secured in alignment thereon, stripper shafts positioned on the opposite sides of the machine mounted on one of the reciprocating elements, a plurality of stripper bars in engagement with said shafts adapted to strip a punched plate from the punches upon rotation of the shafts, and means operated by the reciprocation of the machine to rotate the shafts, v

8. I41 a machine; the combination of reciprocating elements, punches and dies secured in alignment thereon, stripper shafts positioned on the opposite sides of the machine mounted on one oftherecipro'cating elements, a plurality of stripper. bars in engagement with said shaftsadapted to \stripa punched plate from the punches upon rotation of the shafts, and means operated by the reciprocation of the machine to rotate the shafts, said means including bar engaging cams upon said shaft. 9. In a machine; the combination of. reciprocating elements, punches and dies secured in alignment thereon, stripper shafts positioned on the opposite sides of the machine mounted on one of the reciprocating elements and having cams rigidly secured thereto, a plurality of stripper bars having bifurcated ends engaging said cams, adapt ed to strip a punched plate from the punches upon rotation of the shafts, an d means oper; ated by the reciprocation of the machine to:

. rotate the shafts.

11. In a punching machine, a die holder, llo

a die block, a removable template, and means to hold said block and template in rigid relation, said'means also maintaining said holder against said block, said holder provided with a passage opening on the side H5 thereof for thedischarge of slugs.

ARTHUR E. SMALL. 

